Drexel University Computing Academy Launches its Second Year

June 23, 2010

Looking for the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs? You could find him or her at Drexel University this summer. Drexel University Computing Academy (DUCA) launches Sunday, June 27, hosting 20 high school students from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey. During the program, students will be exposed to multiple areas of computing, from engineering to programming, networking to game design, and even computing and business.

“This is an exciting year for DUCA,” said Executive Director Brenda Sheridan. “This year, we have the support of faculty from all computing-related programs at Drexel University, and we have developed an integrated and robust curriculum that engages students in all areas of computing so that they will have a better understanding of the opportunities and careers available in the field.”

This year marks DUCA’s second year in operation. During the five-week, residential program, students share an authentic college experience, taking classes taught by Drexel faculty and participating in interactive projects and labs while living in a dorm, eating at University dining facilities, exploring Philadelphia, and making new friends.

The program’s curriculum is designed to enhance students’ critical thinking, sharpen leadership skills, and teach how to collaborate more effectively. Throughout their five-weeks at Drexel, students work in groups to complete a comprehensive team project. These projects are showcased at the program’s closing ceremonies. This year’s project topics include game design and development, computer and information network security, iPhone application development, high-performance simulation, and building a business on the Internet.

DUCA is co-sponsored by The iSchool at Drexel, College of Information Science and Technology and Drexel University’s Department of Computer Science. The program receives additional academic support from other colleges within Drexel University, including the College of Engineering, Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, and Bennett S. LeBow College of Business. The tuition-based program is an outgrowth of the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for Information, Society, and Technology (PGSIST), which was hosted at Drexel from 1998 through 2008, and was eliminated in 2009 due to state budget cuts. DUCA was developed as an alternative program to meet the demand for a quality summer educational experience for college-bound high school sophomores and juniors.